Device for closing sliding panels



y 8, 1963 w. D. NOBES 3,091,003

DEVICE FOR CLOSING SLIDING PANELS Filed Oct. 5, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. M Q m 490 (lg/as fl OAES Y A iforne y May 28, 1963 w. D. NOBES 3,091,003

DEVICE FOR CLOSING SLIDING PANELS Filed Oct. 5, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. W/ /am Doug/as li obes Affornc United States Patent 3,091,003 DEVICE FOR CLOSING SLIDING PANELS William Douglas N obes, Rochester, N .Y., assignor to The Caldwell Manufacturing Company, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 5, 1959, Ser. No. 844,253 Claims. ((31. 2919) This invention relates to sliding panel doors, and, in particular, to a device for holding panel doors in various predetermined positions and closing the panels in response to a slight pressure.

It is an object of this invention to provide various panels, screens, and other sliding doors with a means of closing them automatically in response to a slight pressure.

Another object of this invention is to provide predetermined positions where the sliding panels may be left open.

A feature of this invention is the use of an inexpensive closer to accomplish the above-mentioned objects.

The objects and features of the invention may be realized by the means described in the following specification.

The invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description when taken with the drawings, showing by way of example a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation view of a sliding panel closure equipped with a closer embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view as taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cut-away view of the closer construc tion.

FIGURE 4 is a detail view more clearly showing the rod having a spiral section.

On both the upper and lower jamb of a frame 11, best shown in FIGURES l and 2, there is mounted a pair of parallel tracks 12. Tracks 12 run the entire length of each jamb. Slidably disposed within tracks 12 is sliding panel 13. Sliding panel 13 is shown in a closed position in FIGURE 1.

Sliding panel 13 has a groove in its lower edge, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, to accommodate closer 14. Closer 14 is mounted, merely by preference, on the lower jamb of frame 11, between tracks 12. The extreme end of closer 14 is flush to the side jamb of frame 11 to prevent entry of dust and other harmful particles. Pin 16, which is merely representative of a means of connecting, is connected to sliding panel 13 and spiral rod 15 of closer 14, thus securing sliding panel 13 to closer 14, preventing rotation of spiral rod 15. The opposite end of closer 14 is provided with a screw 17, which may be placed through the case 18 of the closer 14, through a loop of the spring 19 and into the jamb of the frame 11, thus securing the closer 14 to the frame.

Closer 14, shown more clearly in FIGURE 3, comprises ca-se 18, spring 19, sleeve 20, slider 21, and previously-mentioned spiral rod 15.

The spring 19 is disposed within the case 18. One end of the spring 19 may be formed into a loop through which the screw 17 passes in securing the closer 14 to the jamb of the frame 11, as described above. Thus, the said end of the spring 19 may also be securely anchored by means of the screw 17, and this means prevents the spring 19 from rotating within the case 18. The opposite end of the spring 19 may be fastened to the sleeve 20, preferably as by expanding the end of the 3fi9lfi3 Patented May 28, 1963 spring 19 over the body of the sleeve 20, due to the body diameter thereof being greater than the inside diameter of the coils of the spring 19. The foregoing is a well known expediency in the art of securing spring; and it is recognized that torsional forces applied to the spring 19 thus secured tend to render the securement thereof more eflicient at such times. The slider 21 may be formed integrally with the sleeve 20, or may be a separate piece fastened to the sleeve 28 as by brazing or by another suitable means. The slider 21 is preferably formed with a substantially rectangular opening disposed axially therethrough through which is disposed the spiral rod 15.

Spiral rod 15 is mounted within the spring 19 and case 18 assembly. At the end of spiral rod 15, toward screw 17, there is provided a means 24 such as a pin or the like which prevent spiral rod 15 from being completely removed from the closer 14. At the opposite end, spiral rod 15 is passed through a rectangular or other suitably shaped slot set in the center of slider 21 which is freely rotatable in the case 18. Hole 22 is provided at the end of spiral rod 15 to permit pin 16 to pass through and be secured to sliding panel 13.

Spiral rod 15 is constructed, preferably, from a fiat piece of metal. The metal of the rod 15 is twisted in a series of helices to thus impart a pitch to the rod 15, as shown in FIGURE 4-. At certain points along the rod 15, the metal is left untwisted, or flat, thus remaining at zero pitch, as will appear. If desired, the pitch of the spiral rod 15 may be varied from one point to another to compensate for the torsional force imparted by the spring 19 as it is wound in response to axial movement of the spiral rod, as will also appear. Such variance of the pitch and the resultant compensation will yield a sub stantially constant value of closing force against the sliding panel at various points along the track 12. Similarly, the pitch may be of such degree at one end of the spiral rod 15 so as to increase the closing force and thus slightly accelerate the closing movement of the panel at the nearly closed position thereof for operating latches or the like.

The operation of the device can be easily followed with reference to the several views. It is assumed that the sliding panel 13 is in a closed position as shown in FIGURE 1. As sliding panel 13 is opened, spiral rod 15 follows it. The pitch of spiral rod 15 causes the slider 21 and the sleeve 20 to be rotated, and, thus, torque is applied to spring 19. When sliding panel 13 is fully open, spiral rod 15 is at a point such that a zero pitch point as at 23 is in the rectangular slot of slider 21. The now fully tensioned spring 19 cannot rotate, at zero pitch point '23 does not permit any rotation of sleeve 20 and slider 21, and spiral rod 15 is fastened by pin 16 against any rotation. A slight momentary pressure on sliding panel 13 will cause the panel and the spiral rod 15 to move toward the closer 14. At a predetermined point, spiral rod 15 has an increased pitch which permits slider 21 to rotate. Torque on spring 19 causes the sleeve 20 and the slider 21 to continue to rotate, thus moving spiral rod 15 and closing sliding panel 13.

Spiral rod 15 may be provided with one or more zero pitches 23 to permit sliding panel 13 to remain open in various predetermined positions. Once the movement of sliding panel 13 is initiated, the momentum of the sliding panel will cause the spiral rod 15 to pass any additional zero pitches 23 which may have been provided.

Thus, it is seen that I have provided a closer for sliding panel doors with intermediate stops provided if desired.

Having thus disclosed a particular form which the invention may assume, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise embodiment shown,

but only as fairly falls within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A sliding panel assembly comprising a jamb, a track attached to said jamb, a sliding panel slidably disposed in said track, and a closer, said closer comprising a torsion spring disposed within a case, said case containing a slider disposed at one end thereof, and a spiral rod, one end of which is fastened to said panel, said spiral rod passing through said slider whereby said slider, case and torsion spring rotate when said panel is moved, said spiral rod having flat areas at spaced points along its length, Said flat areas preventing said rotation so as to hold said sliding panel in a variety of open positions.

2. A sliding panel assembly comprising a jamb, a track attached to said jamb, a sliding panel slidably disposed in said track, and a closer attached to said jamb and sliding panel, said closer including a torsion spring disposed within a case, said case containing a slider disposed at one end thereof, and a spiral rod, one end of which is fastened to said panel, said spiral rod passing through said'slider whereby said slider, case and torsion spring rotate when said panel is moved, said spiral rods having flat portions at intervals along its length, said flat areas preventing said rotation so as to hold said sliding panel in a variety of open positions, said closer closing said sliding panel in response to a slight momentary pressure.

3. A device for closing a sliding panel in a frame, said device comprising a torsion spring anchored to the frame, a slider attached to said torsion spring, and a member having a spiral section passing through said slider and adapted to be attached to said sliding panel; said spiral section having a pitch and spaced flat sections, said member being drawn through said slider during opening of the panel whereby the slider will be rotated by the spiral section to wind the spring and the panel will be retracted to a. closed position by the unwinding of the spring and consequent rotation of the slider upon the spiral section.

4. A device for closing a sliding panel in a frame comprising a torsion spring anchored to the frame, a slider attached to said torsion spring, and a member having a spiral section passing through said slider and adapted to be attached to said sliding panel; said spiral section having a pitch, said spiral section being drawn through said slider during the opening of the panel whereby the slider will be rotated by the spiral section to wind the spring and the panel will be retracted to a closed position by the unwinding of the spring and consequent rotation of the slider upon the spiral section, said spiral section having means for holding said sliding panel in a variety of open positions.

5. A device for closing a sliding panel in a frame, said device comprising a torsion spring anchored to the frame, a slider attached to said torsion spring, and a member having a spiral section passing through said slider and adapted to be attached to said sliding panel; said spiral section having a pitch, said spiral section being drawn through said slider during opening of the panel whereby the slider will be rotated by the spiral section to wind the spring, and the panel will be retracted to close position by unwinding of the spring and consequent rotation of the slider upon the spiral section, said spiral section having means for holding said sliding panel in a variety of open positions, said means comprising a plurality of fiat portions .in said spiral section, said flat portions creating Zero pitch points in the said unwinding of the spring and rotation of said slider, said pitch points preventing said rotation so as to hold said sliding panel in a variety of open positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 737,991 Albright Sept. 1, 1903 889,064 Taylor May 26, 1908 1,933,768 Siqveland Nov. 7, 1933 2,786,240 Tobiasz Mar. 26, 1957 2,925,860 Dunn Feb. 23, 1960 

1. A SLIDING PANEL ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A JAMB, A TRACK ATTACHED TO SAID JAMB, A SLIDING PANEL SLIDABLY DISPOSED IN SAID TRACK, AND A CLOSER, SAID CLOSER COMPRISING A TORSION SPRING DISPOSED WITHIN A CASE, SAID CASE CONTAINING A SLIDER DISPOSED AT ONE END THEREOF, AND A SPIRAL ROD, ONE END OF WHICH IS FASTENED TO SAID PANEL, SAID SPIRAL ROD PASSING THROUGH SAID SLIDER WHEREBY SAID SLIDER, CASE AND TORSION SPRING ROTATE WHEN SAID PANEL IS MOVED, SAID SPIRAL ROD HAVING FLAT AREAS AT SPACED POINTS ALONG ITS LENGTH, SAID FLAT AREAS PREVENTING SAID ROTATION SO AS TO HOLD SAID SLIDING PANEL IN A VARIETY OF OPEN POSITIONS. 